/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The DA supports and backs the court action today by the City of Cape Town against SANRAL, opposing the introduction of draconian tolling on the Western Cape’s highways which stands to rob our poorest communities of access to opportunities and jobs.

People outside the City will be further from jobs, further from opportunities and further from achieving a better life.

Commuters from outside the Cape Town city-centre could pay thousands of rands a month to travel into Cape Town if the South African National Road Agency’s (SANRAL’s) N1/N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project goes ahead. This prohibitive cost will keep citizens far away from jobs and economic activity.

The DA opposes these tolls like we opposed the irrational e-tolling of highways in Gauteng.

These Western Cape toll fees would be nearly three times more than those charged on Gauteng highways, should SANRAL’s proceed. The DA believes that this is pure highway-robbery.

• SANRAL’s proposed tariff for a light vehicle travelling on the N1 through the four toll pay points between Durbanville and De Doorns, will be R144.96.

• For a Class-4 vehicle (truck) the tariff will be R433.00.

• A car travelling through the pay points on the N2 between Mitchells Plain and Botrivier, will have to pay R95.56 and a truck R381.00.

This will place immense financial strain on already struggling communities and restrict freedom of movement and opportunity.

Despite the immense socio-economic impact, SANRAL had not been able to provide any credible reason for the implementation of the planned toll roads. What’s more, SANRAL will save approximately R32.25 billion if it maintains and builds the N1 and N2 from their own funds instead of appointing a concessionaire to fund the work through tolling.

SANRAL’s preferred bidder, Protea Parkway Consortium (PPC), proposed to fund this maintenance and construction through tolling, at a cost of a staggering R54.76 billion – 243% of what it would cost SANRAL.

The Western Cape already contributes generously each year to road maintenance, through personal and fuel levies.

The DA will oppose this highway-robbery at every turn, and in the coming days will announce further steps against tolling in the Western Cape.

Issued by DA